Results 2,901-2,920 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for the failure to recognise the insurability of the employment of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38694/12]

Topical Issue Debate: School Transport Availability (25 Sep 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to convey a deep sense of anger, frustration and annoyance on the part of hundreds of parents throughout County Laois at the consequences of the recent school transport changes. I refer in particular to the parents of students attending Heywood community school in south County Laois. I remind the Minister that this school was founded in 1990 as a result of a forced amalgamation by...

Topical Issue Debate: School Transport Availability (25 Sep 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He referred specifically to transport "on a concessionary basis" in accordance with the terms of the scheme. I ask him to elaborate on the future of the concessionary scheme. Could a student who has attended a school for a year find himself or herself without any transport to that school? Does the Department envisage that a student in such a...

Topical Issue Debate: School Transport Availability (25 Sep 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Minister of State.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (26 Sep 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in relation to community employment workers, employed at Citizen Information Centres, having regard to the level of training involved, if consideration will be given towards a three year participation contract, having regard to the fact that participants would gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their CV's which would also ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Housing Development Surveys (4 Oct 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the national housing development survey to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42378/12]

Topical Issue Debate: Fee Paying Schools (9 Oct 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise this important issue with the Minister for Education and Skills and I thank him for his attendance. The House will be aware that the Government has increased the pupil-teacher ratio in fee-charging schools to 21:1. It is 19:1 in other State-funded schools. Public debate on this issue has been shrouded in claims of elitism and privilege and a...

Topical Issue Debate: Fee Paying Schools (9 Oct 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Minister for his comments and the clarification that no decision has yet been made on this issue, notwithstanding the current budgetary process. On minority faith schools, particularly those of the Protestant persuasion, I refer to the block grant of €6.5 million. I impress on the Minister the importance of retaining the full sum, having regard to the points I made and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Discussion with the Ombudsman (10 Oct 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the strongly worded comments of the Ombudsman to the committee regarding the Bill before the Seanad. I am not sure of the date it was published but, notwithstanding her strong words, progress is at last being reported and that should also be acknowledged notwithstanding the frustration, both personal and professional, of various Ombudsmen over the past 27 years. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Discussion with the Ombudsman (10 Oct 2012)

Charles Flanagan: That should be dealt within in one or two days.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Application Numbers (27 Nov 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if any steps will be taken to address the backlog in application for family income supplement as applicants are informed that these will not be dealt with until January 2013 at the earliest, even though some people applied over six months ago and having regard to the anxiety and hardship accruing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52210/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services (27 Nov 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the consultant orthodontist serving the midlands area of counties Laois and Offaly, currently transferring to the southern region has left; if he will outline the steps he proposes to take in order to ensure a replacement to deal with the backlog in respect of orthodontic treatment in counties Laois and Offaly;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (27 Nov 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons in Laois/Offaly have a wait of at least two years to have a hearing test; the steps he will take in order to improve matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52784/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (27 Nov 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons in Laois/Offaly have to wait for a minimum of two years in order to have a hearing aid fitted; if this timeframe is the same in other counties here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52785/12]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Signage (29 Nov 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will conduct a review of motorway signage indicating places of interest to include businesses and commercial sites in close proximity to the State's motorway network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53455/12]

Report of the Expert Group on the Judgment in the A, B and C v. Ireland Case: Statements (Resumed) (7 Dec 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the report and recommend its reading by as many citizens of the State as possible. I hope the report is available in all public libraries, schools and colleges. I encourage everyone to go online to read it. The Government must ensure that hard copies of the report are available because of its importance. I acknowledge the great work of the expert group and its composition of...

Topical Issues: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Dec 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to have the opportunity before the end of the term to raise the issue and I thank the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for her attendance. I am concerned about both the cost and the delay involved in the assessment for those involved in inter-country adoption. I recognise the need to have the most rigorous of procedures in place, particularly with regard to vetting, home...

Topical Issues: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Dec 2012)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased with the Minister's statement that auditors will examine the fees schedule. Has the State satisfied itself as to the financial standing of the agencies or bodies involved in the inter-country adoption process? Are prospective adoptive parents who have been in the system since before the Hague Convention was signed legally obliged to deal with the designated authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Points System (18 Dec 2012)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the circumstances under which penalty points imposed on road users maybe suspended, removed or cancelled before the expiry of the statutory period, together with details of the officers charged with authority to remove and the regulation under which this power might be invoked. [56721/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (16 Jan 2013)

Charles Flanagan: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the amount a student (details supplied) in County Laois will receive in their maintenance grant from Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58164/12]